Decorative laminated safety structure



V. H. ROSEN .DECORATIVE LAMINATED SAFETY STRUCTURE x., zum... n" v2: xn

nvenor /cro /fvosfv Per MW aw f March 12, 1940.

@lttornel/ l Patented Mar. 12, 194() UNITED 'res TENT j ortica DECORATIVE LAIWINATD SAFETY i STRUCTURE l The present invention relates to a decorative safety structure and has particular reference to l glass laminated to steel for use in buildings, signs, furniture and the like.

Colored and decorative glass and otherfrangible materials are being used today for the exterior decoration of buildings `and for many interior decorative purposes. When used on building exteriors the frangible materials are normally .10 cut and shaped Vinto panels that are applied directly to the masonry with an intervening binding agent of cement or mortar to hold them in place. oftentimes this decorative theme is carried to some heights above streets and sidewalks.

` Because of this positioning of the material there is a likelihood of breakage due to shocks or temperature changes causing the frangible material to shatter or break and fall'to the ground. Besides the spoilingof the decorative theme, there is the danger of injury to people and objects struck by the fallingfragments.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a decorative material that is durable, inexpensive and simple to manufacture. Y

,25 A further object of this invention is to provide a material made at least in part from glass or `frangible materials that will not' shatter even Athough broken.

A still further object of this invention is to prol vide a decorative material that may be attached to interiors or exteriors of buildings and endure after breakage, without injury to persons `or objects below. i

Another object of this invention is to provide a 35sturdy structure partially of frangible material that is sturdy, resistant to breakage and' shatterproof. i

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a decorated wall protected from wear and disl:40 coloration that is easily cleaned and maintained in its original state ywith little eiort.

For aiding in the disclosure of the invention, I u

show in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, certain arrangement of parts by reference to which the article and its `mounting isY described. It is to be understood that the description and drawing are presented for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed so as to limit the scope of the claims unnecessarily. The thickness of the plates or layers is exaggerated in 'the drawing for purposes of clarity.

In the drawing: i Fig. 1 is a View in elevation of one embodiment of the structure of the invention;

vmember but will be held in place.

Fig. 2 is a sectionalview through the structure taken on the line 2--2 of Fig.- l showing means for supporting it from a wall;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of the structure showing a framework that may be used 5 in connection therewith; i

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7 are sectional views of diiferent embodiments of the invention showing various uses. i In a preferred embodiment of my invention I `1,0

laminate a glassy or frangible material to a sturdy backing member through a proper adhering agenti,` so that, upon breakage of the material through some mishap, the separate pieces of the material will not shatter free from the backngj15 By means of this structure the material willresist a greater blowor force than it would standing alone. It

`is` also prevented `from undergoing substantial oscillations` or vibrations which might tend to 20 breakor shatter it. l r

This structure may be used in variousembodiments depnding upon the purpose of the use and the decoration desired. For instance, a highly polished sheet of metal may be laminated to .p25 transparent glass through Well known transparent adhering agents, such as Fibestos `The finished structure is of the appearance of `highly finished metal. Themetal is protected from atmospheric conditions while lthe glass is rendered 30 highly resistant to breakage and prevented from shattering. Either the metal or glass may be first painted upon the inner surfaces or colored opaque glass may be used. In the last instance the metal need not be finished but may have ,35 merely a coat of rust preventing paint.

Preferably, the structure is sealed atits edges tov prevent moisture or other agencies from injuring or discoloring the structure between the laminated parts. 4o

Tapestries or advertising media may be inserted between the frangible material and the supporting member for various decorative effects and properly held in place.

By using a backing member of sturdy, substantially nonbreakable characteristics, the structure may be supported from a Wall through hooks or other devices, insuring against its falling. Likelihood of injury to persons from falling pieces is thus greatly reduced over structures that must 50 rely only upon plastics for this purpose.

The final structure is practically integral and l is greatly strengthened over present structures i el() masonry wall.

`rearwardly extending ange 2li upon the back- 'I2 preferably of metal to which is laminated a member of irangible material it. Intervening these two members is an adhering agent H5 somewhat exaggerated as to thickness for purposes of clarity. The metal backing member $2 may be `of plated or unplated steel; monel or Alleghany metal may be used, or copper, zinc and other materials can be employed.

The frangible material may be of transparent, colored, frosted, opaque glass V`or marble or tile and likematerials, depending upon whether the beauty of the metal is desired. Beauty of glass would not require an expensive or finished metal.

As an adhering agency, cellulose or resin prodi ucts, or plastics may be used and they may be transparent or not, again depending upon their use. In practice a material called Fibestos has been found Ato give excellent results and water glass has given satisfaction in smaller sized pieces. Preferably, the frangible and supporting members are lamina'tedby using a sufficient amount of heat and pressure to cause them to form a secureadherent bond between them.

The edges of the finis-hed structure are sealed against moisture in ways well known in the ,manufacture of safety glass o1' a sealing frame .may be lused for this purpose.

Olne sealing means IS is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and `5 and comprises a frameof strap metal having an inwardly turned ange. This strap overlies the laminated edges and is spot-welded to the metal backing member l2, or otherwisel affixed to the structure. A modification is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 where the sealing frame may be a channelled member `2i Aclamped around edges of the structure.` It may be plated or highly polished to give a decorative trim to the complete structure.

Each of the finished structures may be secured or supported from a wall in any suitable manner. `Where the backing member is o-f metal, hooks or eyes may be welded directly thereto and fastened yto eyes or hooksv embedded in a One means shown is to forma ing member. This ange is slotted as at 22. A flattened hook member 23 is bolted to the supporting wall and the structure l0 is supported from the hook by hanging the slotted flange thereover.v

Other modifications are shown in the drawing for obtaining various decorative effects.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a coating of lacquer or paint 24 applied tothe backing member -IZ with the frangible member Ill, in this instance a transparency, laminated thereto through the intervening adhering agency It. In Fig. 5 the paint or lacquer 24 layer is shown applied to the inner portion of the glass.

Fig. 6 shows a modification whereby a decorative fabric or paper layer 26 lis laminated to the structure by means of two layers of the adhering agency I6. In use, this could be` applied to signs or other advertising media. The same results of shock resistance, added strength and the prevention of shattering are accomplished in this modification.

In the same way, double-faced signs, screens lor decorative devices may be built, using one common backing member l2 as shown in Fig. 7 rand adding the paint layer Zl, the adhering agency i6 and the frangible material irl all laminated into an integral whole.

Because of the added strength giveny by the backing member I2, the frangible member may be greatly reduced in thickness and the metal backing member may be of sheet-like thickness depending upon the use to which `it is put. A vmere gold or silver leaf or .sprayed layer or deposit of a metallic nature isnot sufficient for the purpose of a back-ing member 'as a blow or condition causing the vbreakage of the glass would cause the metal to tear or break, spoiling the structure and not `obtaining the results for which Ithis invention is adapted. The backing member should be of )sufficient strength and thickness to hold the frangible material to it even after breakage of the latter to prevent shatter.

Other modifications of this invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such modifications are intended to be' included in the language and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim: l. In a structural device, a sheet rmetal backing member, a ydecorative member rlan'iinated to said backing member, a transparent member. laminated to said decorative member and transparent adhering agency between said `members for supsupported by each of said backing members, an,y .intervening adhering agency holding ffrangible material to its :respective backing member even after breakage, and fastening means oneach oi said backing members, said fastening Vmeans 'arranged to support said backing members posi-v 'tively to a wall 'and cooperating with fastening members of contiguous backing members to form a ksubstantially integral decorative wall.

VICTOR n. RosN. 

